UPDATED: Rainbow Flags Have Not Been Banned From From Today's NRL Grand Final

UPDATE: Nine reports that News Corp's original claims of rainbow flags being banned at the grand final were inaccurate. The NRL has since issued a statement to the TV news network saying:

“Rainbow flags have not been banned. If they exceed the size requirement or include content deemed offensive (swear words etc), they would not be allowed.”

ORIGINAL STORY: It's a big day for sports fans across Australia & NZ, with the NRL grand final set to go down in Sydney (we hear some cowboys are fighting a storm or something).

And ICYMI: the sporting event's already gotten itself pretty mixed up in Australia's unfolding marriage equality debate. Firstly, because -- like MTV -- the NRL has publicly and proudly backed the 'Yes' campaign (go, team!). And secondly, because today's pre-game show performer Macklemore has declared that he'll be perfoming his SSM anthem and #1 hit 'Same Love' in front of the hundreds of thousands -- if not millions -- of fans who'll be watching from the ANZ stadium grandstand and tuning into the event on the tele, in a powerful show of support for the LGBTQ+ community.

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Despite the song being a number #1 hit in Australia, 'No' campaigners including former PM Tony Abbott have been bellyaching about Mack performing it, and have been petitioning the NRL to ban it from his setlist!!

... but now, the code's grand final venue has taken its own measures to stop the game becoming any more 'politicised'.

The NRL has confirmed to News Corp that ANZ Stadium's ban on politically-themed items at games will now extend to rainbow flags and marriage equality campaign material -- including both 'Yes' and 'No' campaign banners -- and security at the gates will be doing bag checks to confiscate any signs or posters that could potentially upset either side of the SSM debate.

This in accordance with ANZ's official policy, which reads:

"Patrons wearing or otherwise displaying inappropriate or unauthorised commercial, political, religious or other offensive images, logos etc. may be denied entry into the Stadium or asked to remove such items prior to entering the venue."

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An official's told News Corp: "The approach we are taking is that everyone’s allowed to express their views provided they don’t upset the person next to them. Further to that any flags bearing any political views will be subject to approval by security."

21 Celebrities Who Support LGBT Rights

21 Celebrities Who Support LGBT Rights

Josh Hutcherson: "My mum has always been a big advocate, especially in the gay, lesbian, transexual, and bisexual community... so for me it's always been a part of my soul."

1 of 21

Daniel Radcliffe: "Gay people should have equality in law everywhere. If you grow up as a young gay man knowing you don't have the same opportunities as everyone else, you're going to feel victimised and massive prejudice towards you."

2 of 21

P!nk: "I threw my best friend's wedding...she's gay and she married her wife. At the end of it, her mum said, "Why can't this be legal?" and started crying. It was just the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen."

3 of 21

Beyoncé: "I have always thought of it as something that is still holding the country back. What people do in their own homes is their business, and you can choose whoever you love."

4 of 21

Drew Barrymore: "No one has any right to tell anyone what makes a family. You choose your battles in this world. This is something that means everything to me."

5 of 21

Miley Cyrus: "I believe every American should be allowed the same right and liberties."

6 of 21

Justin Timberlake: "We're people and we're different, all of us. And we should be using our differences to bring ourselves closer together"

7 of 21

Carrie Underwood: "I'm in favour of acceptance. And I am a Christian person, and I do love the Lord, and I feel no matter who you are, what you believe, how you live your life, it's not my place to judge."

8 of 21

Kristen Bell: "The reason we're not rushing to get married is because I don't feel appropriate taking advantage of a right that's denied to my best friends."

9 of 21

Brad Pitt (before marrying Angeline Jolie): "Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able."

10 of 21

Lena Dunham: "I don't want to get married until all gay people can get married."

11 of 21

Lady Gaga: "When I started in the mainstream it was the gays that lifted me up. I committed myself to them and they committed themselves to me, and because of the gay community I'm where I am today."

12 of 21

Chris Hemsworth: "Marriage is about love and commitment and, in a country based on equal citizenship, it should be available to everyone!"

13 of 21

Margot Robbie: "LOVE IS LOVE"

14 of 21

The Veronicas: "Love wins, love always wins"

15 of 21

Ruby Rose: "For me, marriage is more about equal rights than the act of getting married. When you don't have equal rights, it trickles down to kids...So it's important to break down that barrier."

16 of 21

Jennifer Hawkins: "Everybody loves the same way, so they should be able to celebrate it in the same way."

17 of 21

Kylie Minogue: "Can we please just do it already?"

18 of 21

Nicole Kidman: "I believe in allowing people who love each other to share their lives together and to honour it."

19 of 21

Rose Byrne: "I am pro-gay marriage and I think it's ridiculous people can't marry who they want to marry in Australia in this day and age."

20 of 21

Hugh Jackman: "Marriage should be about love and respect, not discrimination."

21 of 21

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